The Desires
An R&B vocal group from Harlem, New York City, New York, USA. Members were lead Robert White, first tenor Charles Hurston, second tenor Jim Whittier, baritone Jerome Smith, and bass Charles Powell. Whittier, the founder of the group, was a veteran of the doo-wop scene, having formed the Jive Tones, who recorded for Apt in 1958, in his native hometown city of Rochester. The following year Whittier moved to New York immediately emerged himself into the flourishing doo-wop scene of Harlem. The Desires were signed to Bea Casalin's Hull label and recorded their one claim-to-fame, Let It Please Be You. The song featuring the child-tenor lead sound made popular by Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers achieved a great deal of regional success on the east coast, and today it is one of the most beloved of the child-lead oldies. The death of Casalin served to put their record company in disarray and the Desires suffered. Discouraged, the group broke up in 1961. As true of many east coast doo-wop groups, the Desires have on occasion regrouped for revival shows.